Matthew P. Bergmans Full Testimony on Section 230 to Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation
Matthew P. Bergmans Opening Testimony https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7jOOQGSzC1w U.S. Senator Schatz to Matthew P. Bergman: “How Do Companies View Section 230?” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F8T5vCmlHmA U.S. Senator Klobuchar to Matthew P. Bergman: “How Has Section 230 Shut the Courthouse Door to So Many Parents Seeking Justice for Their Kids?” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F8T5vCmlHmA U.S. Senator Schmitt to Matthew P. Bergman: “Since Section 230 […]
Meta and YouTube Held Responsible for Harm to Vulnerable Users in First-of-Its-Kind Trial
A California jury has delivered a significant verdict against Meta and YouTube, awarding a total of $6 million in damages to a plaintiff who alleged that prolonged exposure to social media platforms during childhood contributed to serious mental health harm. The award includes $3 million in compensatory damages and an additional $3 million in punitive […]
Matthew P. Bergman Gives Testimony on Section 230 Reform to Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation
The Shield of Section 230 On March 18, Matthew P. Bergman, founding attorney of the Social Media Victims Law Center, appeared before the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation to deliver both spoken and written testimony. He addressed the pressing issue of how Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act has contributed to the […]
AI Chatbot Companions: Impact on Children and Teens
AI chatbot companions are becoming a part of everyday life for many children and teens, often without parents realizing how deeply these tools are shaping their emotional world. Unlike traditional AI programs, chatbot companions are designed to simulate friendship, understanding, and emotional support. They are built to feel personal, responsive, and available at all times. […]
Matthew P. Bergman and Laura Marquez-Garrett Featured in TIME 100 Health List for 2026
We are honored to announce that our attorneys, Matthew P. Bergman and Laura Marquez-Garrett, were recognized in TIME 100 Health. Matt, Laura, and our entire team have been on a mission to advocate for children and teens harmed by social media since 2021. We share this recognition with all the families whose children and teens […]
Chatbot Psychosis: What Is It?
Artificial intelligence chatbots are becoming an integral part of everyday life, particularly for children, teens, and young adults. Many of these tools are marketed as helpful, supportive, or even therapeutic. However, growing evidence shows that for some users, prolonged interaction with AI chatbots can contribute to serious mental health crises. Families across the country are […]
Is Snapchat Safe for Kids?
Snapchat allows users to send video, photo, or text messages to each other that disappear soon after use. According to Statista, the platform has about 320 million daily users. What Is Snapchat? Snapchat is a popular app that allows users to create and send “snaps” messages that use multiple media options, including photos and videos. […]
How to Identify Social Media Addiction and Problematic Use: A Parent Guide
Social media is a prevalent part of our day-to-day world. Platforms such as Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, and Facebook allow us to connect with friends and loved ones through short snippets of information designed to catch our attention. Depending on the application, you may share a text update of your day on Facebook, a picture of […]
How AI Chatbot Companions Create Emotional Dependency
AI chatbot companions are increasingly designed to feel personal, supportive, and emotionally present, especially to children and teens. On this page, we explain how specific design features can lead to emotional dependence on AI chatbot companions and why those patterns raise serious safety concerns for families. Each section below breaks down a specific design pattern […]